Printed three-dimensional optical component with embedded functional foil and corresponding manufacturing method

Abstract

The present invention refers to a printed three-dimensional optical component built up from layers of printing ink characterized in that the three-dimensional optical component comprises at least one foil between two consecutive layers. The present invention further relates to a corresponding manufacturing method.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foil is a colored foil. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foil is a polarizing foil. 
     
     
         4 . method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foil is a photochromatic foil. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising coupling an input unit to the at least one foil. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the input unit comprises a sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foil is a stack of foils constituting a display. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foil comprises an active liquid crystal element. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising changing a refractive index of the active liquid crystal element upon exposure to ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , comprising changing liquid crystal transparency and/or color of the liquid crystal element upon application of electric voltage. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the three-dimensional optical component comprises a power supply unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising: containing an input unit and/or a power supply unit in a frame; and connecting the at least one foil and the input unit and/or the power supply unit contained in the frame with electrical connectors. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the electrical connectors comprise electrical circuits printed inside the optical component. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the electrical connectors comprise transparent conductive tracks printed from transparent conductive polymers. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a three-dimensional optical component comprising:
 building up the three-dimensional optical component layer by layer by:   a. depositing droplets of printing ink at least partially side by side and one above the other; and   b. depositing at least one foil between two consecutive layers during the depositing droplets of printing ink step.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the three-dimensional optical component comprises a lens. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the lens is a spectacle lens. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the frame is a spectacle frame. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the droplets deposited are at least partially cured after each depositing droplets of printing ink step. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the printing ink comprises a UV curable liquid monomer becoming a polymer if being cured. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the droplets deposited are not cured before the depositing of at least one foil step so that wet build material provides adhesion to the at least one foil to be deposited in the depositing at least one foil step.